Breakthrough
HPD debuted in the CART IndyCar World Series as an engine manufacturer in 1994, achieving a podium finish at Toronto during its first season. The company secured its first victory in 1995 at New Hampshire. By 1996, HPD had achieved significant success, winning both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships with 11 wins from 16 races.
Peak Seasons
HPD continued its dominance into the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning six consecutive drivers’ championships from 1996 to 2001. The manufacturers’ title was also claimed in 1998, 1999, and 2001. In 2003, HPD transitioned to the IRL IndyCar Series. The 2004 season saw overwhelming success, with HPD winning 14 of 16 races, including the Indianapolis 500, and securing both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships.
The following year, 2005, was similarly successful, with a second Indianapolis 500 victory and 12 race wins, leading to another sweep of the manufacturers’ and drivers’ crowns. From 2006 to 2011, HPD served as the sole engine manufacturer for the IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500. During this period, the Indianapolis 500 was completed without any engine failures for a record six consecutive years, and entire seasons – 2008, 2010, and 2011 – passed without any race failures.
Since the return of manufacturer competition in 2012, HPD has continued to achieve success, winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025. The drivers’ championship was secured in 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, while the manufacturers’ championship was won in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025.
Sports Car Racing
In 2006, through its Acura brand, Honda announced plans for a Le Mans Prototype program in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), initially competing in the LMP2 class. The Acura ARX-01a, a development of Courage chassis, featured a 3.4-liter V8 engine developed by HPD – the first V8 branded as an Acura and the first Honda racing engine built outside Japan. The engine, designated AL7R, shared architectural elements with the Honda engine used in the Indy Racing League, though no parts were interchangeable. In 2010, the Acura name was dropped in favor of HPD, and the car became known as the HPD ARX-01. Further iterations of the chassis followed, including the ARX-02, ARX-03, ARX-04b, ARX-05, and ARX-06.
HPD also supplied engines for GT300 cars in the Super GT Series in 2007, using the C32B designation. In 2012, HPD shifted its focus to being a chassis and engine provider rather than running a works team, and also returned to the premier LMP1 class in the Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship series. HPD left the Daytona Prototypes class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2017, with the Acura NSX competing with HPD technical support in both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge. The company returned to the Prototype class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2018 with the ARX-05, again providing technical support.
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